SARTHAK-PDS scheme gets Cabinet nod for 5 more yrs

An outlay of ₹25,530 crore approved

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension of the "SARTHAK-PDS" scheme for five years till March 2031, with an outlay of ₹25,530 crore, by merging two existing programmes. It also revised the norms governing central assistance to states and Union Territories for intra-state movement and handling of food grains, along with fair price shop (FPS) dealers' margins, while retaining the existing funding pattern.

However, this drew sharp criticism from the All India FPS Dealers Federation. The body said the commission for ration dealers had been increased by a mere 10 paise per kilogram, which was grossly inadequate.